Universal time-piece



Jan. 5, 1960 H. F. A. SPECKINGER 2,919,536

UNIVERSAL TIME-PIECE s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1956 FIG. I

INVENTOR. 6054 JP: CK/NQEE JLMW AGENT Jan. 5, 1960 H. F. A. SPECKINGER 2,919,536

UNIVERSAL TIME-PIECE Filed April 25, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2

INVENTOR. 4 J'PEL'Km/aee Jan. 5, 1960 H. F. A. SPECKINGER 2,919,536

UNIVERSAL TIME-PIECE Filed April 25, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 30.

INVENTOR. 6.051 JPECK/Nf lam M.

United States Patent UNIVERSAL TIME-PIECE Henry Francois Alois Speckinger, Neu-Isenburg, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany Application April 25, 1956, Serial No. 580,574 Claims priority, application Germany April 25, 1955 4 Claims. 01. 5843) The present invention relates to improvements in socalled universal timepieces which throughout the world will permit the standard or zone time appertaining to the particular locality of observation as well as that appertaining to any other desired locality to be readily ascertained. Such universal timepieces are of considerable utility when fitted in means of transportation such as ships, aircraft, and the like, because they permit the correct time to be read in the same way when the place ofobservation moves from west to east or conversely.

To ascertain local standard time by means of conventional timepieces the hands of the latter must be advanced or put back according to whether the timepiece travels eastwards or westwards. To establish uniformity in thetime of the clock at different localities so-called standard times were introduced, such as central European time, eastern standard time and other standard times,

which more or less differ from the true local time of any particular locality within a standard time zone. To determine the standard time which in any such zone corresponds with the standard time in any other zone some calculation is therefore required.

Universal timepieces have the advantage that such computations to determine the standard time in some other zone are not required. Such universal timepieces are so contrived that apart from giving a time indication in the manner of a conventional timepiece, the standard times in other territories of the world can be simultaneously read. To this end the hours are inscribed on a dial which moves once every hour and is surrounded by a stationary dial which bears reference symbols corresponding to individual standard time zones. The drawback of this arrangement is that the zone and the hour dials cannot be rotated together by external manipulation as would be necessary when travelling westwards or eastwards.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a universal timepiece which will give a reading of thestandard time appertaining to any point of ob-, servation in the same way as a conventional timepiece, but which will at the same time permit the standard time at any other point on the globe to be ascertained without difficulty. The novel timepiece is constructed in such a way that the dials can be set to the standard time appertaining to any arbitrarily selected point,without the need of interfering with the clockwork mechanism, the said setting simultaneously displacing the other figures and symbols whereby the standard time at the point of bs ervation can always be read at the same point on the dial, namely in the twelve oclock position thereof.

.The timepiece of the present invention substantially consists of a principal mechanism driven by electrical or other means, of a dial displaying 24 hour numerals which concentrically rotate about a minute dial, the hour dial being connected with stepping means, and an outer dial which concentrically encircles the hour dial and which displays 25 symbols, 23 of said symbols being equidistant- 1y distributed and two thereof e.g. Z and A sharing a common sector to account for the date line.

The dial or ring which carries, say, letters of the alphabet to indicate the different zones, is rotatable on its axis. The symbol denoting the most frequently used zone is at the topin that position which in conventional watches and clocks is occupied by the numeral 12. To a user, say, in London, the symbol M relating to the isopart zone which includes London is therefore the appropriate symbol to place at the top of the dial. For reading the corresponding time at some other place on the globe, say, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, reference must be made to the hour indication which aligns radially with the relative symbol N and to the general minute indication which holds for every zone. If a reading is required for an intermediate zone, two neighboring symbols, say, G+H, must be read together and 30 minutes either added or subtracted from the minute indication to find the time at a place situated in such an intermediate zone.

Other features, advantages and attributes of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description of two embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of the face of a timepiece,

Fig. 2 is a part representation of a cross section of the timepiece, the section being on the line I-I in Fig. l, and the adjacent dial portion being represented in the plane of the paper instead of normal thereto,

Fig. 3 is a sectional part view of modified mechanism for actuating the zone and hour dials, and

Fig. 3a is a section taken on line IIIaIIIa of Fig. 3.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the universal timepiece has a fixed dial 1, with subdivisions representing minutes and seconds. A minute hand 2 continuously revolves over the face of this dial and is rearwardly extended beyond its fulcrum to form a hand 3 which indicates the times in intermediate zones. The hour dial 4 which carries 24 numerals, one for each hour of the day, and associated pointers 5,. rotates behind the minute dial 1 in the anticlockwise direction. These two dials 1 and 4 are encircled by the zone dial 6 which can be turned clockwise as well as anticlockwise. This zone dial 6 may be arranged behind or in front of the hour dial 4. The zone dial 6 carries 25 standard time symbols indicated by reference numeral 7. (A-Z), 23 symbols for indicating zonal localities and two symbols for indicating the international date line, each of the numbered pointers 5 on the hour dial 4 pointing to one of the standard time symbols 7, excepting at the date line 8, i.e., a zone in which the standard time of day is the same but the date differs, where two symbols Z/A share the same zone division. The clockwork 9 moves the minute hand 2 by rotating the minute shaft 10 in the clockwise direction, whereas the hour dial 4 is driven in the counterclockwise direction.

A cam 11 is keyed onto the shaft 10 of the minute hand 2 so as to periodically engage the adjacent end of and displace a contact rod 13 against the pressure of a constantly acting spring 12 held in a bracket 14. The other end of contact rod 13 is thus pushed into contact with a fixed cooperating contact 15. The clockwork mechanism 9 is housed in a cage 16 surrounded by a cylindrical casing 17 which represents a hollow shaft for supporting the zone dial 6 as well as for the hour dial 4.

A cylinder 18 with a flange 19 is rotatably mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical casing 1.7. Secured to flange 19 is an annular disc 20 which on its outside carries a servomotor 21 securely bolted thereto. A shaft 22 with a pinion 23 projects from the casing of servomotor 21 through the annular disc 20, the said. pinion engaging a gear ring 24 rigidly affixed to the back Patented Jan. 5, 1960 3 of the hour dial 4. The end of the cylindrical casing 17 facing the hour dial 4 has a collar 25 which carries a roller bearing 26 for supporting the hour dial 4.

The back of the hour dial 4 is fitted with a pin 27 which perpendicularly projects from the rear face of the dial, and which has a few teeth by means of which it entrains and turns a gear wheel 28 through a certain angle at the end of each 24 hours. This gear wheel 23 is mounted in a cylinder 29 which is connected, on the one hand, with the annular disc 2d and, on the other hand with the zone dial 6. A bracket 3t supports the shaft 31 of gear wheel 23 which at its other end carries a pinion 32 meshing with another pinion 33. Pinion 33 is secured to the shaft of a heptagonal prism 34 and is adapted to rotate the same. The faces of the prism 34 carry seven numerals 35 which indicate the days of the week. At the end of every 24 hours the prism 34 is rotated to display another numeral 35 corresponding to the next following day of the week. This indication of the day of the week is displayed on the face of the timepiece in a window 36 as shown in Fig. l. A spring finger 37 is secured to the back of the hour dial 4. The free end of this finger is adapted to click into indentations in the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 18 and thereby couples the hour dial 4 and the zone disc 6 together, the connection being established through cylinder 18, annular disc 23 and cylinder 29.

A gear ring on the periphery of annular disc 20 meshes with a pinion 39 mounted on the drive shaft of a driving motor 49. This motor 46 is connected with electrical or mechanical drive means for imparting rotation to the zone dial 6 and is operated by a stepping mechanism.

The above described universal timepiece operates as follows:

The clockwork 9 is either spring driven or it may have an electrically powered movement. it causes the minute hand 2 to revolve over the minute dial 1. After each full revolution of the minute hand 2, i.e. at the end of each hour, the cam ill on the minute shaft displaces the contact rod 13 against the pressure of its spring 12 into contact with the cooperating fixed contact point 15. Hence the electrical circuit of the servo-motor 21 is closed. The rotating shaft 22 of the servo-motor 21 and the gear wheels 23 and 24 turn the hour dial 4. The moving contact rod 13 is in due course released and its contact with the fixed contact point 15 breaks when the hour dial has been turned to the next hour. As a result of the abrupt motion of the hour dial in the anticlockwise direction the free end of the spring finger 37 detaches itself from the indentation in the peripheral surface of cylinder 18, but immediately engages the next indentation in the cylinder. It will therefore be understood that the servo-motor 21 will be actuated only once every 60 minutes, and that its effect will be to turn the hour dial 4 and the numerals indicating the hours through an angle of of a full circle. To facilitate the reading of fractions of hours the circuit of the servo may of course be closed once every 30 minutes to advance the hour dial 4 through an angle corresponding with only half an hour.

The driving motor 443 is adapted to turn the zone dial 6 either clockwise or anticlockwise. By the manipulation of a switch not shown current can be supplied to motor 40 and the pinion 39 turned in the desired direction, either to the left or the right. Pinion 3h engages gear ring 33 on the periphery of annular disc 26 and thereby causes the zone dial 6 to turn, the hour dial 4 being at the same time entrained by the finger member 37.

This arrangement has the advantage that the user of the timepiece can turn the particular zone sector which rates to his point of observation, for instance in New York sector G (London sector M), into that position which on a conventional clock dial would correspond with 12 oclock, so that the universal timepiece can be read anywhere as a conventional timepiece and the time which applies to the locality of observation easily ascertained.

The zone dial 6 is turned when summer time begins or ends and when the point of observation is changed, for instance in an aeroplane or on a ship, from west to east or conversely, and the user. of the timepiece can adjust the zone dial 6 with its symbols 7 in such a way that the symbol of the new point of observation will be at the top, i.e. where on a conventional clock dial the Figure 12 appears. Spring finger 37 causes rotation of hour dial 4 with the zone dial.

it is a special feature of the invention that the adjustment of the zone dial 6 by manipulation from the outside does not affect the movement of the clockwork 9 which controls the movement of the minute hand 2 and the stepping of the hour dial 4. A timepiece which is to be used for instance in an aeroplane must accurately conform with the change of location with respect to space and time without imposing upon the user the necessity of calculations to allow for. changes in location with respect to space and time. The time. of the-clock changes. continuously, whereas location varies according to the direction of flight of the aircraft. Neither the continuous change in the time of the clock nor the diverse possible changes in location are to interfere with the positive. movement of the clockwork. Consequently, according to the invention, the hours are so arranged as to remain in unchanged relationship with the time zones when the latter change with changes in location.

The improved timepiece, of the present invention therefore for the first time demonstrates (a) the natural revolution of the globe, (b) any change in locations. (6) every subdivision of the day, i.e. every hour, according to prevailing conditions and in accordance with the laws of nature. The invention further achieves that thejoint displacement of zone dial 6 and hour dial 4 is automatically compensated for by the clockwork 9 if at the end of a full revolution of the minute hand 2 the zone dial 6 is turned at a moment when the hour dial requires to be advanced by one hour. Thus, servornotor 21 will displace hour dial 4 with respect to zone dial 6 even if the hour dial is rotated at the exact time when the minute dial completes a full revolution to close the electric circuit of the servomotor.

Fig. 3 shows a different mechanism for mechanically displacing the zone dial 6 without affecting the clockwork and the stepping of the hour disc, which is applicable to Wrist watches, mantelpiece or, wall clocks.

The clockwork 42 with the minute shaft 43 which carries the minute hand 44 is enclosed in a casing 41. The minute shaft carries a stepping wheel 45 provided on part of its circumference with a toothed segment. which in the course of a brief time interval at the end of each complete hour imparts rotation to a pinion 49 through change wheels 47 and 48, pinion 49 meshing with a gear wheel 50 on the hollow shaft of the hour dial 4. The hour dial 4 is arranged to revolve freely on the hollow shaft 51 of the zone dial 6, but engages the zone dial 6 by means of the click catch 37.

When the hour dial 4 is advanced by the stepping wheel 45 on shaft 43 of the minute hand 44, the click catch 37 is disengaged and the hour dial 4 jumps for: ward to the next indentation for engaging the catch. If the knurled knob 52 on the outside of the casing 41 is turned in the one or the other sense of rotation then the bevel gear 53, which is fastened to the hollow shaft 51 of the zone disc 6, will rotate the latter and entrain the hour dial 4 by the action of click catch. However, if during such an adjustment of the zone disc 6 by the manipulation of the knob 52 the minute hand 44 should complete a full revolution, i.e. the end of an hourshould have been reached, then the action of the stepping wheel 45 will cause the click catch 37 to disengage. Consequently a change in the position of the zone symbol will not afiect the normal action of the clockwork mechanism.

Fig. 3a is a part sectional view on the line IIIa--IIIa in Fig. 3 and illustrates in front view the action of the different gear wheels and pinions. As above described, the stepping wheel 45 which has a toothing on only a short segment 46 of its circumference is keyed to the minute shaft 43. This segmental toothing 46 of the stepping wheel 45 imparts rotation to pinion 49 through the change wheels 47 and 48 at the end of each full hour, pinion 49 being geared with gear wheel 50 and causing the hour dial 4 to be advanced one hour.

The above described timepiece permits the standard time of any locality to be read on a 24 hour dial accurately according to its legal time relation, i.e. independently of its geographical area.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A universal timepiece comprising, in combination, a fixed minute dial, a minute hand, means for moving said minute hand including a shaft rigidly connected with said hand, an hour dial with 24 hour symbols revolvably and concentrically mounted about said minute dial, means for turning said hour dial in anti-clockwise direction, stepping means coupled with said hour dial and said shaft for advancing said hour dial by one hour at the end of each hour, a rotatable zone dial surrounding said hour dial and carrying twenty-three symbols for indicating zonal localities and two symbols for indicating the international date line, and means for releasably coupling said zone dial with said hour dial.

2. The timepiece according to claim I, wherein said means for releasably coupling said zone dial with said hour dial is a spring finger fixed to one of said dials and the other of said dials has a plurality of indentations for receiving the free extremity of said spring finger.

3. A timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising drive means including a pinion, and a gear ring fixed to said zone dial and meshing with said pinion for advancing said zone dial and said hour dial when said drive means is actuated.

4. The timepiece according to claim 1, further comprising a motor rigidly connected with said zone dial for rotating said hour dial relative to said zone dial, and means operatively connected with said minute hand for actuating said motor at fixed time intervals whereby said hour dial is rotated relative to said zone dial against the force of said means for releasably coupling said hour dial with said zone dial.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 614,937 Dietz Nov. 29, 1898 718,579 Pheils Jan. 13, 1903 862,884 Connor Aug. 13, 1907 1,499,692 Reed July 1, 1924 1,874,348 Prenazner Aug. 30, 1932 2,056,089 Boggs Sept. 29, 1936 2,070,087 McNair Feb. 9, 1937 2,169,956 Leatart Aug. 15, 1939 2,451,639 Tellier Oct. 19, 1948 

